Evolution

In an attempt to explain the diversity of living things, Darwin's theory of natural selection

Described how evolution could have occurred.

Which groups are arranged in correct descending order according to a modern classification system?

Kingdom, Phylum, Genus, Species

A weakness in Darwin's original theory of evolution was that

The genetic basis for variation was not explained.

A scientist studying fossils in undisturbed layers of rock identified a species that, he concluded, changed little over the years. Which observation probably would have led him to this conclusion?

The same kind of fossil organisms appeared in old and new rocks.

Evolution refers to change over a long period of time in what?

a population

Which phrase best defines evolution.

an adaptation of an organism to its environment

Which is an example of evolution

development of the modern horse from earlier horse species

In a binomial system of nomenclature, which two classification groups provide the scientific name of an organism?

genus and species

Scientists have attempted to explain the rate of evolution by means of

gradualism and punctuated equilibrium

Structures having a similar origin but adapted for different purposes, such as the flipper of a whale and the arm of a human, are called

homologous structures

One way that the modern theory of evolution differs from the theory of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin is that the modern theory

identifies mutations as one explanation for variations

One explantion for the variety of organisms present on Earth today is that over time

new species have adapted to fill available niches in the environment

Which technique has been used by scientists to determine that the Earth is at least 4.5 billion years old?

radioactive dating of rocks in the Earth's crust

Evidence that best supports the theory of biological evolution was obtained from the

study of fossil records

According to Charles Darwin, one factor that affects the evolution of a species is

survival of the fittest

Darwins theory of evolution is based on

variation and natural selection